Cave games ranked by difficulty

[Anesthetize]

I apologize if this is a duplicate topic; a quick search didn't yeild anything like this so here goes:

How would you rank all of the Cave shmups in terms of difficulty? I know 'difficulty' has a broad range of definitions here (scoring, 1cc-able, etc). I guess I'm mainly interested in terms of survival or being able to 1cc it, but if you'd also like to rank the scoring systems by difficulty go right ahead.

I would start this off with my own ranking, but I've only played about half of their games so far. From what I've played, DOJ and Ketsui are definitely at the top, while Deathsmiles and Mushihimesama Futari BL (Original) would be at the lower end.

[Vyxx]

Daioujou, Ketsui, & EspGaluda II are the hardest

[Lance Boyle]

Daioujou, Ketsui, & EspGaluda II are the hardest

What about Mushi Futari Ultra?

[brentsg]

Yeah the question gets to be a bit ambiguous when you start comparing scoring runs, survival runs, various different modes that some of the games have.

[TrevHead (TVR)]

EspGaluda, Esp.rade are genrally thought of as the easiest Cave shmups to 1CC, Also 1 looping DDP is seen as easy especially compared to getting a 2-all

BTW how diificult are DP and DFK compared to DDP? (1 loop, 2 all and score) I know DOJ is the hardest pachi

[david peterson]

I thought deathsmiles was considered the easiest?

[Sasupoika]

This would be my guess:

[ Easiest ]
Deathsmiles
ESPgaluda
Akai Katana
ESPra.de.
Guwange
Dangun Feveron
Donpachi
ESPgaluda II
Ibara
Daifukkatsu 1.5
Dodonpachi
Mushihimesama ( Ultra )
Progear
Mushihimesama Futari ( Ultra )
Ketsui
Dodonpachi Dai-Ou-Jou ( White Label )
[ Hardest ]

This is based on what I have heard and played.
I do not know about Deathsmiles II. Ibara is kinda wonky because of rank. No idea about MMP or PS. I would guess they are easier Dangun Feveron.

Edit: Just to add, it is still largely dependant on player. But I guess this list gives some sort of direction, rather than any kind of answers.

[david peterson]

Pink sweets is ment to be fucking mega hard .

[originalz]

I think that there used to be list made by Japanese players that ranked the titles? I remember that DOJ White was up near the top, but don't remember anything else. It was definitely posted here before, quite a bit of time ago. Wonder if anyone can dig it up and repost it?

[krokodil_final]

From what I've seen pink sweets is hard. MMP shouldn't be that easy too, when you play for score.

[Aliquantic]

I think that there used to be list made by Japanese players that ranked the titles? I remember that DOJ White was up near the top, but don't remember anything else. It was definitely posted here before, quite a bit of time ago. Wonder if anyone can dig it up and repost it?

This is probably the thread you have in mind, I believe.

[hzt]

There's a Japanese wiki with what I assume is an update of that list, Cave games look like this:

Hard

DOJ 2 all
Futari ultra (Palm abnormal)
Ketsui ura 2 all
Futari God +TLB (Reco)
DFK ura 2 all (power style)
Progear 2 all
Mushi ultra
DDP campaign version 2 all
DDP 2 all
Deathsmiles LV999
DFK ura 2 all (bomb style)
DOJB 2 all
Ketsui omote 2 all
Donpachi 2 all
DOJ Black label 1 loop +hibachi
Dangun Feveron +TLB (not the cat)
Futari maniac
Deathsmiles LV3
Progear 1 loop (Bolt-Nail)
DFK omote 2 all (bombstyle)
Ibara normal
DOJ 1 loop
Espgaluda II
DOJ Black label 1 loop no hibachi
Guwange
Ketsui 1 loop (A)
Esp Ra. De.
Mushi maniac
Donpachi
Dodonpachi 1 loop (C-shot)
Espgaluda
Futari 1.5 original
Mushi original
Pink Sweets with infinite lives
DFK 1 loop (bomb style)

Easy

I don't know that I agree with all of that but then I haven't actually played half the games.

[emphatic]

when you play for score.

If this is applied, then you should have separate lists for survival and scoring.

[david peterson]

That list is kinda retarded tbh , ketsui first loop beneath guwange? and pink sweets with infinite lives a trick you actually have to activate? there needs to be a chart basic on the defaults of these games separate from a "all things considered" kinda list imo anyway.

[DragonInstall]

hmm in terms of 1CC I would say Espgaluda 2 is pretty high imo. But if you're counting 2-loop games, than pretty much any 2 loop one will be in the tops. Well exception is Mushi Ultra mode.. that is tough as nails.

[gameoverDude]

Hardest of all: DOJ (White & Black Label), Mushi in Ultra mode, Futari in God mode
Quite Hard: Ketsui, Espgaluda II, Progear, Ibara, Mushi & Futari in Maniac mode, Guwange
Moderately Hard: DFK White, E.S.P.Ra.De., Espgaluda (not so hard to reach Jakou, but he still holds his own against other Cave bosses)

[kid aphex]

great avatar, OP

[Anesthetize]

great avatar, OP

Thanks! Don't find too many PT fans 'round here.

[Estebang]

My opinion on the ones I've played:

EASIEST

Uo Poko (lol)
Deathsmiles (US slowdown)
Espgaluda (as was mentioned, easy by Cave standards up until the final boss, where it gets batshit difficult)
Esprade
Donpachi
Progear
Guwange
Feveron
Dodonpachi
Mushi Futari (Maniac)
Ketsui
Espgaluda II (if playing for score, easier than Ketsui otherwise)
Dai Ou Jou (White Label)

HARDEST

[anji2128]

great avatar, OP

Thanks! Don't find too many PT fans 'round here.

+1 here!

[moozooh]

Based on my experience, so not comprehensive by far. Survival-only since I can't score for shit in most of them.

[Hardest]

Futari 1.5 Ultra
Mushi Ultra

DoDonPachi (2-ALL)
Espgaluda Arrange
Dangun Feveron (normal ship)
Dangun Feveron (cat)
Futari BL God
Guwange

Guwange Blue
DFK 1.51 (Power)
Ketsui (1-ALL)
Futari 1.5 Maniac
DOJ BL (1-ALL + TLB)
ESP Ra.De.
Mushi Maniac
DFK 1.5 (1-ALL, Power)
Progear (1-ALL)

DOJ WL (1-ALL)
Mushi Original
DonPachi (1st loop)
DFK Arrange A (1st loop)
Futari 1.5 Original
Espgaluda
Ketsui X-mode
Futari BL Maniac

DFK 1.51 (Bomb/Strong)
Mushi Arrange
DoDonPachi (1-ALL)
DOJ BL (1-ALL)
DFK 1.5 (1-ALL, Strong/Bomb)
Futari Arrange Ultra
Futari BL Original

DOJ X-mode
DFK Novice (Omote 2-ALL)
Futari Arrange O/M
Guwange Arrange
Futari Novice O/M/U

[Easiest]

[blotto]

I do not know about Deathsmiles II.

I'd say it's probably the easiest (when always choosing the lowest difficulty level). It's the only shmup I've been able to 1CC on my first attempt.

[DragonInstall]

Based on my experience, so not comprehensive by far. Survival-only since I can't score for shit in most of them.

[Hardest]

Mushi Futari 1.5 Ultra
Mushi Ultra

DoDonPachi (2nd loop)
Dangun Feveron (normal ship)
Ketsui (1st loop)
Guwange
Mushi Futari 1.5 Maniac

Dangun Feveron (cat)
ESP Ra.De.
Mushi Maniac
DOJ WL (1st loop)
DFK 1.5 (1st loop, Power)
Espgaluda
Progear (1st loop)

DOJ BL (1st loop)
Mushi Original
DonPachi (1st loop)
Mushi Futari 1.5 Original
DoDonPachi (1st loop)
DFK 1.5 (1st loop, Strong/Bomb)

[Easiest]

Wheres ESP2 and Deathsmiles.

[david peterson]

hurr durr he says quite clearly " based on MY experiences so if he hasnt played certain games he wont be ranking them will he . I am baffled at how dangun with uopoko could be ranked easier then dangun with normal ship? upoko gets no bombs and is a spazzmaloid to control.

[NR777]

hurr durr he says quite clearly " based on MY experiences so if he hasnt played certain games he wont be ranking them will he . I am baffled at how dangun with uopoko could be ranked easier then dangun with normal ship? upoko gets no bombs and is a spazzmaloid to control.

Uo Poko also kills things a lot faster so there is effectively a lot less to dodge.

[david peterson]

Yeh in levels 1 and 2 maybe , i think the fact there is only 1 uopoko clear on this site compared to 5 for normal and just look at the amount of stage 5 scores in comparison . Uopoko is clearly harder to complete the game with .

[NR777]

Whatever you say. I can get further in the game with Uo Poko than with any of the standard ships, but clearly I have no idea what I'm talking about.

[david peterson]

Whatever you say. I can get further in the game with Uo Poko than with any of the standard ships, but clearly I have no idea what I'm talking about.

How far?
Personally i can consistently get to stage 5 with normal but never got past stage 4 boss with uopoko.

[NR777]

Middle of stage 5. My runs with the normal ships never go past stage 4.

[sikraiken]

Because of Uo Poko's speed, he is easier to clear the game with than the regular ships. You might be able to get farther with a regular ship early on (because of bombs), but for completion, once you learn the stages, Uo Poko is a lot easier to clear the game with. When you're making point blank shots with Uo Poko, a lot of enemies don't have a chance to even shoot. Other times, Uo Poko's speed allows for you to make very quick and easy sweeps across the screen to avoid bullets.

david peterson: There were 5 more Dangun Feveron Uo Poko clears during STGT this past year, so 6 vs 5 regular clears. These numbers have no bearing anyway since it seems like more people would rather play with the normal ships because they're scared off by how fast Uo Poko's speed is, which takes a little time to adjust to.